ABOUT OIF

The Ohio Opportunity

CFIG, which is the manager of the fund and the fund investment group of Credit Suisse, believes that attractive opportunities for private equity investment exists in Ohio given the State's strong capital and resource base, vibrant infrastructure of government, industry and academic constituencies that support private equity and the increasing number of start-up companies that require financing for growth. Ohio is steadily transitioning to an economy based on research and innovation and has also emerged as a key technology center of the Midwest. Through the OIF, business leaders, academics and political activists can work collaboratively to ensure the State's economic growth through technology commercialization, research development and federal funding.

University-level institutions provide research capital, laboratory space and the appropriate environment for collaboration. Ohio has an academic community of over 90 colleges, universities and institutions with excellent research and technology transfer capabilities. Institutions such as Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, Ohio University and the University of Cincinnati are among the nation's top universities for receiving federal R&D funds. With each, the opportunity exists to tap their resident knowledge to help bring new technologies to market abound.

Corporate presence in the State is felt through household names such as Procter & Gamble, DaimlerChrysler, Sherwin-Williams, and Honda Motors. In addition, Ohio companies are also on the cutting edge of the industries of the future; industries such as advanced electronics (American Electric Power, Owens Corning, Diebold, Eaton, FirstEnergy), information technology (NCR, LexisNexis, Convergys, Cincom) and advanced materials (Owens Corning, Goodyear, Goodrich), are expected to play an increasing role in the diversification of Ohio’s traditional industrial base. These corporations may serve as collaborators for technological innovation and opportunities for future exit.

CFIG also believes that government departments such as the Ohio Department of Development, forward thinking government initiatives and enterprising growth organizations like the Ohio Venture Association indicate the State's commitment to further research development, jumpstart new business activity and increase employment. The State is dedicated to the growth of local businesses and has successfully brought these organizations and initiatives together to promote and develop entrepreneurship and venture capital.

The State's existing clusters of innovation in high technology (particularly in advanced electronics information technology and advanced materials), manufacturing, aerospace and defense, machinery and plastics can further grow through a collaborative effort of private equity managers, corporations, academia and government. Thus CFIG believes that the opportunity for an in-state private equity fund such as OIF is better than ever at this time. CFIG considers private investment in Ohio's clusters of innovation instrumental in further advancing the State through job creation and technological innovation.